Pipe crimping attachment

ABSTRACT

An attachment device for affixure on standard vise grip pliers to form a sheet metal crimping tool. The device consists of a pair of identical jaw lugs each having similar longitudinal land and groove configurations formed therein. The jaw lugs are secured to each of the upper and lower jaw of the vise grip plier in alignment such that the land and groove formations close in mating engagement to effect longitudinal, corrugated crimping of a sheet metal object upon application of pressure.

United States Patent 1191 [451 May 7, 1974 Blancett [5 PIPE CRIMPING ATTACHMENT 3,357,460 12/1967 Gawura 140 106 [76] Inventor: Thomas B. Bance, 1416 NWl 106 2,130,748 9/1938 Suter 81/420 Oklahoma Clty Okla 731-14 Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson [22] Filed: June 1, 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dunlap, Laney, Hessin & 21 Appl. No.: 258,656 Dwgheny [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 72/413, 29/56O.l,181(;12036, An attachment device for affixure n Standard vise [51] Int Cl B21 37/12 grippliers to form a sheet metal crimping tool. The [58] Fieid 140/106. device consists of a pair of identical jaw lugs each hav- 7 01. 81/423 ing similar longitudinal land and groove configurations I formed therein. The jaw lugs are secured to each of [56] References Cited the upper and lower jaw of the vise grip plier in alignment such that the land and groove formations close UNITED STATES PATENTS in mating engagement to effect longitudinal, corru- Zggggg; gated crimping of a heet metal object upon applicaac am 354,657 12/1886 Rowe 140/106 non of pressure. 2,477,727 8/1949 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Engberg 72/473 PIPE CRIMPING ATTACHMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an attachment for plier-type hand tools and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, it relates to mating, identical lug attachments for affixure to the jaws of a standard vise grip plier to form a sheet metal crimping tool.

2. Prior Art The prior art crimping tools of the hand type have taken the form of specially constructed scissor-type manipulating tools of sufficient length to provide requisite leverage. Such tools of necessity, have been relatively unwieldy and have required an inordinate amount of storage space within the sheet metal working mans tool kit or work space. The prior art with respect to attachment tools, as specifically adapted for pliertype hand tools, contains no prior teaching as to a sheet metal crimping attachment of the type constituting the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a hand crimping tool in the form of an attachment device which may be utilized when required by affixure to the upper and lower jaws of a standard vise grip plier. More particularly, the invention consists of two identical jaw lugs, as may be formed using the same identical die, the corrugated work face of the jaw being so formed that any two jaw lugs can be opposed in mating engagement. The opposed jaw lu gs are affixed to the upper and lower jaws of the vise grip plier by means of set screws to enable rapid assembly and disassembly of the gripping tool when the exigencies of a particular work operation require.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for a standard hand tool to enable diverse utility.

It is also an object of the present invention to make a manual crimping tool available to the sheet metal man without taking up space andadding weight to the standard or average tool box contents.

It is yet another object of the present invention to enable construction of opposed crimping lugs each. of which can be formed with the same identical die or forming member.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment-type sheet metal crimping tool for use with standard vise grip pliers which offers additional functions as a forcing, bracing and hammering tool as utilized in various forms of sheet metal work.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the crimping attachment of the invention as affixed in operative engagement to vise grip pliers;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the work face engagement of the crimping tool relative to a sheet metal edge;

FIG. 3 is aside elevational view with portions shown DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1, a crimping attachment 10 is shown as securely affixed in operational position on a pair of vise grip pliers 12, a standard and commercially available tool. Thus, vise grip plier 12 consists of a main handle 14 and lever handle 16, main handle 14 being rigidly formed to extend into an upper jaw 18 while a lower jaw 20 is pivotally affixed thereto at a pivot point 22. The lower jaw 20 is also pivotally attached at pivot point 24 to lever handle 16 which pivotally supports a guide rod 26 up within main handle 14 in contacting engagement with adjusting screw 28. The vise grip 12 is entirely unmodified from one of the commercially available, general types.

The crimping attachment 10 is made up of an upper jaw lug 30 and a lower jaw lug 32, each of which is securely affixed on respective upper jaw 18 and lower jaw 20' of vise grip plier 12 by oppositely disposed set screws 34, as will be further described below. The upper jaw lug 30 and lower jaw lug 32 are affixed on vise grip pliers 12 so that the mating work faces 36 and 38,'as shown in FIG. 2, may be closed along interface 40. FIG. 2 illustrates the manner in which upper jaw lug 30 and lower jaw lug 32 are closed under force upon .an edge section of sheet metal 42 to form corrugations therein. It may be noted too that the respective work faces 36 and 38 are identically formed so that upon reversal, or when installed in opposed relationship, the work faces mate to perform the corrugating function. This construction technique allows both upper and lower jaw lugs 30 and 32 to be formed from the same identical die or casting mold while assuring constant fit and positive mating engagement.

Referring also to FIGS. 3'and 4, the manner of affixure is illustrated in greater detail. Thus, upper jaw lug 30 includes a pair of opposed, in-line threaded bores 44 and 46 extending into a jaw receiving cavity 48 which receives the upper jaw 18 of vise grip plier 12 therein. A pair of allen set screws 34 can then be threaded into respective bores 44 and and tightened into position to securely affix the upper jaw lug 30 thereto.

The lower jaw lug 32 is, of course, of identical configuration having oppositely disposed and in-line threaded bores 44b and 46b extending into a jaw receiving cavity 48b which receives the lower jaw 20 of vise grip pliers 12 therein. Once again, a pair of oppositely disposed set screws 34 are inserted and tightened against the side surfaces of lower jaw 20 of vise grip 12. As is conventional, the upper jaw 18 is of greater thickness than the lower jaw 20 of vise grip pliers 12; however, the jaw receiving holes 48 and 48b are of sufficient size to receive any of the conventional plier forms and reasonable variations thereof. In practice, the skilled workman would develop a method of partial securing of set screws 34 and setting of the jaw lug interface 30 in alignment prior to final tightening of the set screws 34 into secure operative affixure.

In operation, the skilled sheet metal man, for example a man performing work securing metal conduit of and the like, may carry the vise grip pliers 12 as well as upper jawlug 30 and lower jaw lug 32 in his operating tool box. The vise grip plier 12 is still free for selection and usage in any of numerous jobs wherein such a tool becomes a desirable and effective contributor. In addition, in those instances where it is necessary to crimp a sheet metal edge, e.g., in reducing the cross-sectional area-of a female joining member for insertion in the mating male member, the workman merely has to as sembly the jaw lugs 30 and 32 on vise grip pliers l2 and adjust the leverage and/or degree of closure by setting of adjustment screw 28.

As previously stated, each workman may develop his own technique, any of which will assure proper alignment of mating work faces 36 and 38 when all of the set screws 34, i.e., for each of upper jaw lug 30 and lower jaw lug 32, have been securely .fastened in set relationship against respective upper jaw 18 and lower jaw 20 of vise grip pliers 12. in the case of a drain spout section, by way of example, the worker can readily crimp the. circumference of the pipe section end thereby to reduce its overall outer circumference and to enable an easy insertion into a mating male conduit section. This is only one example as there are very many applications in sheet metal work where it is desirable to crimp a sheet metal edge prior to its final disposition or placement.

Additionally, the crimping attachment tool 10 has ancillary utility in the same applications. Thus, when the vise grip pliers 12 are tightened down so that lever handle 16 locks with tool work faces 36 and 38 closed, the crimping attachment tool 10 serves as a quite effective hammering tool either external to conduit work or for insertion upward within a sheet metal conduit section for bending or turning dovetails and the like. Upon completion of usage of the crimping attachment 10, or a desire to utilize the vise grip pliers 12 for characteristic duty, it is only necessary to loosen one of said screws 34 on each of upper and lower jaw lugs 30 and 32 to effect removal.

The foregoing describes a novel attachment device of relatively simple and unitary structure which can be readily affixed to the jaw struction of a vise grip pliers to serve as a sheet metal crimping, bending or clamping tool. The invention is of such character as to provide increased work capability to the skilled sheet metal worker without requiring an attendant increase in tool hardware and toolbox weight. The invention is formed in such manner that use of a single die or forming aid may be utilized to form both upper and lower mating work pieces, each of which is then readily adapted for affixureto a plier implement suitable for supplying the requisite leverage or closure force.

Changes may be made in the combination and ar rangement of elements as heretofore set forth in the specification and shownin the drawings; it being understood that changes may be made in the embodiments disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A sheet metal crimping attachment tool device for affixure to a plier implement having upper and lower jaws comprising:

first and second jaw lugs each identically formed of similar shape and identical work facing, each being secured in opposite longitudinal orientation to one of the respective upper and lower jaws of said plier implement in secure affixure with said work faces aligned in directly opposed mating engagement upon closure of said plier implement;

each of said jaw lug work faces being formed with a plurality of parallel lands and grooves disposed longitudinally along said jaw lug, one side of said work face terminating in a longitudinal land center andeach jaw lug includes two aligned threaded bores in communication with said cavity to receive set screws on each side of a respective plier implement 

1. A sheet metal crimping attachment tool device for affixure to a plier implement having upper and lower jaws comprising: first and second jaw lugs each identically formed of similar shape and identical work facing, each being secured in opposite longitudinal orientation to one of the respective upper and lower jaws of said plier implement in secure affixure with said work faces aligned in directly opposed mating engagement upon closure of said plier implement; each of said jaw lug work faces being formed with a plurality of parallel lands and grooves disposed longitudinally along said jaw lug, one side of said work face terminating in a longitudinal land center and the opposite side terminating in a longitudinal groove center, and each of said jaw lugs being formed with a similar jaw receiving cavity in the rear facing of said jaw lug and including a ransverse threaded bore in communication with said cavity for receiving a securing set screw.
 2. An attachment as set forth in claim 1 wherein said jaw lug work faces each have at least three complete lands and three complete grooves.
 3. An attachment tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein: each jaw lug includes two aligned threaded bores in communication with said cavity to receive set screws on each side of a respective plier implement jaw. 